Who is Mickel W. Cherry? Wiki, Biography, Age, Arrested, Investigation

Mickel W. Cherry Wiki - Mickel W. Cherry Biography

A man was detained less than a day after a young girl was raped and killed in Kansas this week. According to online prison documents examined by PEOPLE, Mickel W. Cherry, 25, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County prison shortly after 4 a.m. on charges of first-degree murder and rape. Following a report of a medical call, police arrived on the scene at a Topeka gas station at 6 p.m. on Monday, according to a press release from the Topeka Police Department. The Topeka Fire Department's first responders were attempting to save the life of 5-year-old Zoey Felix there.

After being transported to a nearby hospital, Zoey was subsequently declared dead, according to the police. Authorities have not disclosed her cause of death. According to the press release, Cherry was promptly named as a suspect after police claimed that they "quickly determined that the death was suspicious in nature." He was apprehended shortly after, and authorities say the victim knows him.

Mickel W. Cherry Age

Mickel W. Cherry is 25 years old.

Mickel W. Cherry Incident Detail

According to jail records, Cherry is being held under a $2 million bond. His next court date is set on December 21. It is unknown if he has filed a plea or appointed a lawyer to represent him. Booking records indicate that Cherry was homeless, according to WIBW-TV. He resided in the same homeless camp as Zoey's family, according to KWCH 12.

When asked about the link between the suspect and the victim by WIBW-TV, Police Chief Bryan Wheeles declined to comment, stating that more information will be made public until the district attorney's office has reached a "formalized criminal charging decision." Justin Leuty, Zoey's uncle, has started a GoFundMe page to aid with burial expenses.

The fundraiser's description states that "on 10/02/23 our sweet little Zoey, my niece (from my sister) was brutally taken from us." "In light of this unexpected tragedy, we are requesting assistance to bury this precious 5-year-old."

On the GoFundMe page, Zoey was referred to as a "sweet, funny, and goofy little girl who had a great smile and laugh that lit up the world." Call the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368-9400 or send an email to telltpd@topeka.org if you have any information about the case.